Rippetoe is a great start.
You already know rule #1. Walk out of the gym healthy. Once you're in your thirties and not a competitive athlete? That's almost as important as anything else.
Here are three other things I've been persuaded are best.
1. Do EVERYTHING on your feet. That is how one lives and how the machine of the human body is designed to work. That means, among other things, lose the bench press. It is dangerous and when in your life are you going to be flat on your back lifting things anyway? Stick with the overhead/military press. It also means standing rows and not lat pulls, french curls and not seated or lying exctensions etc. Standing means you are always working on your balance and always using your trunk/core muscles.
2. Do the quick lifts. The snatch and the clean are great, great, great. Doesn't matter if you do the hanging versions, the power versions, or use a dumbell or barbell or do the one armed or traditional versions. These are great for coordination and conditioning. Do them first in your routine and stop whne you feel your form going. Great for your back.
3. Kettlebells are the single best conditioning tool there is for older folks. Safe, hard and they can get your metabolism into the stratosphere.
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